Well-known Massachusetts boat captain agrees to plea deal concerning illegal sale of blue fin tuna

Gloucester – A well-known Massachusetts boat captain has agreed to a plea deal concerning the illegal sale of blue fin tuna.

According to Massachusetts Enivronmental Police, in October of 2021, Officers assigned to the Massachusetts Environmental Police Offshore Patrol Boats initiated an investigation into the illegal sale of Blue Fin Tuna, a federally regulated highly migratory species.

Through their investigation, officers, discovered that several blue fin tuna had been sold illegally to a Gloucester fish market.

Criminal charges were taken out against the captain of the vessel in Gloucester District Court.

In late November 2022, the captain signed a plea deal with the Commonwealth and paid fines for the illegal sale of the fish.

According to the Essex District Attorney’s Office, Captain Timothy Ott, and his vessel Hot Tuna, paid $13,500 in restitution.